a parliamentary borough and market-town of England, county of Hants, stands near the Loddon, 18 miles E. by S. of Winchester, and 15 N.N.E. of Portsmouth. Though small, it is clean and neat, and the main street crosses nearly at right angles the London and Portsmouth road. The parish church is a large and ancient brick edifice, with fine Norman arches, and a low square tower. Petersfield has a town-hall, and a handsome statue of William III. on horseback. Churcher's College, an endowed charity school, founded in 1722, affords board, clothing, and education to twelve boys. There is also a library, a reading-room, and a savings-bank. A county court is held here. Besides weekly markets, there are two annual fairs for cattle and sheep. Petersfield never had any extensive trade, and what little it possessed was chiefly derived from its position on the London and Portsmouth road; but of even this advantage it has been deprived, by the construction of the railway between these places. The borough now returns only one member to Parliament; but previous to the passing of the Reform Act it sent two. Pop. (1851) 5550.